Yao Ming Rumors: Will He Miss 2009-10 With Navicular Bone Injury?

by Jon Azpiri | June 29, 2009 at 01:43 pm

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All sorts of rumors are swirling around Houston Rockets center Yao Ming. Today, Yahoo Sports reported that Yao could miss all of the 2009-2010 season with a foot injury, the same one that had him sit out for much of the Rockets '09 playoff run.

The 7'6" giant broke the navicular bone in his left foot for the second time. Last year, Yao had three pins inserted in his foot to heal the broken bone, only to have it re-injured. There are whispers around the NBA that the injury could be career-threatening. Others suggest that a man of Yao Ming's height will inevitably have his body break down sooner or later.

“It sounds like he’s missing most of next season, if not the entire 82 games,” one league executive who has had recent discussions with the Houston front office told Yahoo! Sports. “That’s all that [the Rockets] will concede quietly, but they know it’s probably much worse.”

If and when the Yao returns to the court, it might not be with the Rockets. Stories have circulated that the Chinese-born center might end up playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team which is partially owned by Chinese investors.

Yao, for one, doesn't seem to sure about a possible move.

“This is all an unknown,” Yao said in the interview, a transcript of which was posted online Friday.

“I’ve already been with Houston for such a long time, I still have much affection for this team,” he said. “Moreover, this past season we were very successful, and that let me see some hope.”